Anti-US protests erupt in Kashmir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 8

Despite restrictions imposed in the volatile pockets of Srinagar, a series of anti-US protests were held in the Kashmir valley on Friday to demonstrate against its decision of announcing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The anti-US protests were held in the Hassanabad area of Srinagar, where several hundred demonstrators raised slogans against US President Donald Trump. Another protest was held in the Maisuma locality near the commercial nerve centre, Lal Chowk, where members of separatist group Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front held a demonstration.

In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, hundreds of protesters held an anti-US march while minor protests were also held in south Kashmir districts. All demonstrations ended peacefully.

Three key separatist leaders — Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — had issued a joint call for protests against the US decision to shift its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is an ancient city and home to one of the holiest mosques in Islam.

The three separatists had yesterday described the US decision as “horrible” and said Jerusalem represents “the religious emotions and aspirations of about a billion Muslims living across the globe”. “US President Donald Trump is actually showing his imprudent politics, fascist behaviour and enmity against Muslims,” the separatists said in a statement, which also called for protests on Friday.

Meanwhile, the district administration in Srinagar ordered the imposition of restrictions on civilian movement in several volatile localities of the old city, which is a hub of protests.

The police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength and rolls of concertina wires blocked roads and alleys in several localities falling under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta and MR Gunj police stations, a senior police officer said.

The weekly midday congregational prayers were also disallowed at Jamia Masjid, the city’s largest mosque, to prevent protests and marches in the area. Mirwaiz, one among the three separatist leaders who had called for the anti-US protests and who delivers Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid, denounced the sealing off of the mosque.

In a tweet, Mirwaiz accused the state government of resorting to “shameful operating procedure of imposing restrictions and disallowing Muslims by force from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjidand peacefully expressing their resentment against the US decision”.

Restrictions imposed

• The district administration ordered the imposition of restrictions on civilian movement in several volatile localities of the old city
• The police and paramilitary forces were deployed and concertina wires blocked roads and alleys in several localities falling under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta and MR Gunj police stations
• The weekly midday congregational prayers were also disallowed at Jamia Masjid